The Los Angeles Dodgers survived the 2021 NL Wild-Card Game, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 on the strength of Chris Taylor’s walk-off, two-run home run in the ninth inning. After surviving Wednesday’s win-or-go-home contest, L.A. has gone from being on the brink of elimination to clear World Series favorites.

The Dodgers lead all eight playoff teams with +240 championship odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Houston Astros are a distant second at +450. The San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles’ chief competition in the National League, aren’t even in the same ballpark with +700 World Series odds.

Either Los Angeles or San Francisco will be eliminated before the NLCS. The Dodgers clinched an NLDS matchup with the Giants by defeating the Cardinals, setting up an immediate series between baseball’s best teams.

Despite tying a franchise record with 106 regular-season wins, Los Angeles was relegated to a wild-card berth because San Francisco was one game better. The Giants led MLB with a 107-55 record, giving them a home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason.

San Francisco is a +124 underdog in the best-of-five series against Los Angeles. The defending World Series champion Dodgers have -146 odds to advance.

The winner of the series will face the Milwaukee Brewers or Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. The Dodgers finished 11 games ahead of the Brewers and 17.5 games in front of the Braves in the overall standings.

Coming off their 2020 championship run and a third World Series appearance in four years, Los Angeles entered the 2021 season as the clear favorites in MLB. Even after the Dodgers lost 2020 NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer because of sexual assault allegations, the team replaced him with three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer. L.A. also added Trea Turner, the NL batting champion, at the trade deadline.

The Dodgers could be without two of their best players for the entire postseason. An elbow injury might’ve ended Max Muncy’s season. Clayton Kershaw won’t return in 2021 because of forearm and elbow discomfort.

Los Angeles still has the most talented roster in all of baseball. The Dodgers led the NL in both runs scored and team ERA.

The Dodgers have +135 odds to win another NL pennant.

Max Scherzer Los Angeles Dodgers
Max Scherzer #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he receives the visit from Mark Prior #99, Trea Turner #6 and Will Smith #16 after an error from Corey Seager #5, allowing Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres to score to tie the game 5-5, during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images
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